Tourist Scams and How to Avoid Them

No one likes falling for a scam, especially when you’re on vacation enjoying time with the family. Falling victim to a con is a surefire way to ruin the whole trip and, in some cases, turn you off to travel altogether.

Tourists are easy targets for con artists. They are in unfamiliar territory, there is often a language barrier and they are in a mindset to have fun, not be wary of predators and potential pitfalls.

The best way to protect yourself against these vacation-busters is to be informed. Before you head to a specific destination do a little internet search of your own and find out what destination-specific rip-offs you should be on high alert for. It is also important to be aware of your surroundings and be on your guard whenever you are in a crowded area. Don’t carry unnecessary valuables and safeguard the items you do carry. Men should avoid carrying their wallets in back pockets and women should travel with theft-proof bags.

The most common scams worldwide involve currency exchange. Unfamiliar currency and constantly fluctuating exchange rates make it easy to get confused, not to mention sleight of hand tricks that make it look like we’re getting more money than we think we are. Many unsuspecting travelers make the mistake of bargain hunting for the best exchange rates but they often walk away short-changed or blatantly ripped off with counterfeit bills. Play it safe and get your money changed in a reputable place like the airport, a bank or your hotel. It’s also incredibly easy to use an ATM to withdraw money in local currency directly from your bank account with a minimal exchange fee.

Other cons involve someone distracting you while an accomplice picks your pocket. This con takes many forms, such as the arguing couple making a scene or the more extreme version where a woman begins to disrobe in public. While unsuspecting tourists are distracted by the spectacle, a pickpocket is working his way through the crowd helping himself to your wallet.

One of the oldest scams in the book is the shell game. This con has been around forever and shows no signs of losing steam. The game’s facilitator will convince people to play his game by making it easy to find which shell the ball is hidden under while he shuffles the shells (or cups). Bets are placed and money is quickly won. Once they get you hooked the stakes go up and when you bet a large amount, the shuffling becomes so quick you have little chance of actually winning, thus losing your money. This scam is two-fold, however. Not only are you losing the money you bet but there is also usually an accomplice emptying the pockets of the spectators as well.

Always be wary of strangers wanting to give you something, especially a piece of jewelry or a flower. Once you have accepted it, you are pressured to give them money in exchange and often an accomplice is waiting nearby to add extra pressure if you refuse.

While the finer points of these scams may vary from location, the result is always the same —  unsuspecting tourists are separated from their money and their dignity, ruining a perfectly good vacation.